2. How does the Transition-to-Major process work for me to transition from FYE to my chosen engineering school?

Transition from FYE to an Engineering School is a competitive admission process, based primarily on the GPA and EAI (Engineering Admissions Index) of each student when he or she completes FYE requirements. The EAI is the analogous to the GPA, but only for courses that are used to meet FYE requirements. Students will make a formal request mid-way through their final semester in FYE; after grades post at the end of the semester, all records are audited and students are informed of their transition. Historically, more than 99% of students with both GPA and EAI above 2.75 enter their first choice Engineering School. For all students who qualify to transition to a school (GPA and EAI > 2.00), more than 93% enter their first choice Engineering School. More information is available here.

3. What General Education courses should I take?

The College of Engineering requires 24 credits of General Education for graduation, but the specific requirements of which courses to take varies by degree program. However, Purdue Core Curriculum courses in certain Foundational Outcome areas are common across all Engineering programs. Students in FYE are required to earn credit for an Oral Communication course (typically COM 11400) and a Written Communication course (typically ENGL 10600). Students who enter with credit for these courses may wish to take other Foundational Outcome courses on either the Humanities or the Behavioral and Social Sciences lists. The full list of courses that meet Foundational Outcomes is available here. FYE students with credit for all four of these Foundational Outcomes should consult with an FYE Advisor before planning to take any other course to meet the General Education requirement. More information about FYE General Education is available here.

4. What Science Selective course should I take?

For FYE Requirements, any course on the Science Selective list is ok (most students will take either CS 15900 or CHM 11600). However, some professional schools have specific requirements or specific recommendations. Please see the list here for details.

5. How many semesters do I have to complete the FYE requirements?

The FYE curriculum is designed to be completed in two semesters of full-time study. Some students may take longer. However, you must complete all FYE requirements within four semesters of study. The full details of the policy are available here.

6. How does the Engineering curriculum work with the University Core Curriculum?

The Purdue University Core Curriculum requires that students meet a set of eight Foundational Outcomes and eleven Embedded Outcomes. The Embedded Outcomes are embedded in the upper-level disciplinary coursework in each degree program, so the method that students meet the Embedded Outcomes varies with each degree program. The Foundational Outcomes are common across all of Purdue, and met by passing courses that have been certified in each Foundational Outcome category. By virtue of completing the FYE requirements, students will meet Foundational Outcomes in Science, Quantitative Reasoning (math), Written Communication, Oral Communication, and Information Literacy. Students will meet the other three Foundational Outcomes as part of the General Education requirements in each major, after they leave FYE.

7. What minors are available for students in Engineering?

It is difficult, but not impossible, to earn a minor while completing a degree in Engineering. Technical minors (e.g., other fields of engineering, or science), non-technical minors (e.g., languages, humanities), or professional minors and certificates (e.g., Engineering Leadership, Entrepreneurship Certificate, Global Engineering) are all available. Students typically do not begin work on or declare a minor at least until they have entered a professional school in the second year. A complete list of minors for engineering students is available here.

8. What FYE courses can I take in the summer?

All of the courses required for First-Year Engineering except ENGR 131 are currently offered in the summer session. This includes MA 161, MA 162, CHM 115, CHM 116, CS 159, PHYS 172, ENGR 132, ENGL 106 and COM 114. Additionally, there are several courses available in the summer that do not meet FYE requirements, but do meet engineering graduation requirements for many programs, including selected sophomore level courses in engineering and General Education courses in Humanities or Social Sciences. More information is available here.

10. What are the rules that I need to know about academic probation?

Students may be placed on Academic Probation by the University if grades are not sufficient to merit Continued Good Standing. Students on probation are at risk of being Dropped from the University based on grade performance in the semester on probation. The Office of the Dean of Students maintains a website Academic Integrity and the consequences of Academic Probation. Furthermore, FYE students on probation, at risk of probation, or worried about probation are encouraged to talk to their FYE Advisor. There are some special programs designed to help students on probation develop study and success skills.

11. Where can I go to learn about career opportunities, including summer internship jobs?